PERSONAL FINANCE : PREPARING YOURSELF : TIP . . .

With so many hyped sales pitches for cash-value whole life insurance, it is extremely hard for novice investors to accurately compare policies.

The nonprofit National Insurance Consumer Organization will help you determine real investment returns and whether the policies you are considering are really worth it.

For more information, call NICO at 703-549-8050 or write 121 N. Payne St., Alexandria, Va. 22314. Cost of the service is $30 to evaluate one policy and $20 for each additional one.